Amazon Games Shuts Down New World, 14,000 Jobs Cut
Amazon Games has announced significant job cuts, with 14,000 corporate employees, including those from the MMORPG and multiplayer divisions, set to lose their jobs. This news comes as the company prepares to shut down its popular game, New World, with Season 10 being the final content update. The game's servers will remain online until at least December 31, 2026, but the future of the game and its employees is uncertain.
The shutdown of New World has left fans worried about the future of other MMORPGs. Games like Throne and Liberty and Lost Ark may face similar challenges, given the instability in the industry as seen in 2025. The gaming industry's trajectory has painted a bleak picture for affected employees, many of whom will have 90 days to find new work.
Riot Games, however, has expressed interest in hiring talented developers from New World for its League of Legends MMORPG. Riot's co-CEO Marc Merrill has indicated a desire to recruit 'S-tier talent' to tackle challenging issues in its games. Many of the laid-off developers from Amazon's New World studio in Irvine are potential candidates for Riot's team, although no specific individuals have been confirmed yet. Remaining studios may also absorb some of the workforce affected by the shutdown and layoffs.
The closure of New World has raised concerns about the future of MMORPGs and their developers. While Riot Games has shown interest in hiring top-tier talent from New World, many employees face an uncertain future. Former World of Warcraft lead Greg Street has expressed sympathy for the affected employees, acknowledging the challenges of developing MMOs in today's gaming landscape.
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